Mr. Biden, speaking to Mr. Netanyahu, emphasized the need to protect civilians in Gaza

Mr. Biden, who spoke to Mr. Netanyahu by phone for the first time since November 26, called for humanitarian corridors to separate civilians from the militants of the Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

“The president emphasized the critical importance of protecting civilians and separating the civilian population from Hamas, including through corridors that would allow people to move safely out of designated areas of hostilities,” the White House said in a statement.

The United States has strongly defended Israel’s right to defend itself after the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which the Jewish state says killed 1,200 people. people, and 138 people remain hostages.

But the Biden administration says Israel’s retaliatory ground and air operations are killing too many Palestinian civilians. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday that the death toll had risen to 17,177.

It also told Israel, which is now attacking southern Gaza after a brief truce ended last week, that the number of casualties and displacement should not be as high as during the initial offensive in the enclave’s north.

Amid intense fighting in and around the Gaza Strip’s largest cities on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel must do more.

“Israel must continue to pay special attention to the protection of civilians,” he said during a press conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Thursday.

“There remains a gap between (…) intentions to protect civilians and the actual results we see on the ground,” added the head of US diplomacy.

The United States is also seeking more aid to Gaza.

Mr. Biden welcomed Israel’s decision to allow more fuel into the enclave after the ceasefire ended, but stressed that much more aid was urgently needed, the White House said.

He also called on Hamas to allow the Red Cross access to hostages still being held by the Palestinian militant group.

Mr. Biden spoke separately with Jordan’s King Abdullah II as efforts continue to restore the short-lived truce, the White House said.

The two leaders agreed to work for “a lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East that would include the creation of a Palestinian state,” the statement said.